Dear Friends,
I remember as a child looking forward to autumn as I collected conkers, acorns and pine cones which I squirrelled away (literally) into a box lined with red and orange autumnal leaves. I was fascinated by the variety of colours, the perfection of the tiny acorn cups, the contrast of the spiky conker outsides and beautifully smooth insides… and the autumnal smell of my collection. Threading through a favourite conker with string I would proudly take it to school where we would play ‘conkers’, seeing which hardened nut would last the longest in the battles of the playground and who would end up with a champion conker!
Good memories of treasured days. And the sight of empty conker cases on the ground or the sound of the leaves as I still kick them up along the pavements bring back such memories. And it all feels good, as it engenders a sense of thanksgiving and gratitude…. thanksgiving for what has been and gratitude for what still is.
October is the month when we celebrate Harvest Festival, a time of thanksgiving for the food which has been grown and gathered… for the farmers who work tirelessly on our behalf … and for the summer that has been. As one season wanes and another begins it can be a time when we prayerfully harvest the delights and surprises of the past months and treasure them. We can harvest the moments of laughter, joy and connection. Perhaps we can even harvest the challenges that have stretched us or the difficulties which have sharpened us. Maybe occasionally we might also be able to treasure the struggles in which we still sit.
As the trees drop their leaves we might even reflect on what we could let go of at this time of year. Maybe we can let go of any habits that quietly hold us, but which do not bring us life. Maybe in prayer we might be able to clear out that which holds us back, as we make space for what is to come.
October and Harvest is a time of richness and abundance; and God invites us to open ourselves to the possibilities and promises of the season…. and to treasure what we find there.
with love, Liz